CHAPTER 123: SHE SAID NO

Viviana swiped through the tablet in her grip, reading the documents that had been sent by the marketing department.

"How many now?"

"Two hundred. You’re going strong sweetie," she responded, glancing at Nikolas.

She was seated on top of him with legs crossed like a bow. Nikolas was doing push ups while she counted in her head.

Groaning, he went down and up. Viviana asked, "Do you want to stop? Two hundred is already impressive enough even if you’re not human."

"You’re really underestimating me, Viviana," Nikolas hummed. His wet hair was in his face. "Keep counting."

"Are you sure? I don’t want you to hurt yourself, Nikolas."

"Keep counting."

"Alright, alright."

... "Two hundred and fifty."

... "Three hundred."

Her face furrowed. "Niko, I think we should stop. Or at least let me get off."

"Stay where you are and keep going," Nikolas laughed softly, shaking his head. "Me? Hurt?"

Viviana worriedly threw the tablet into the sofa nearby. She tried to reach for his hair, brushing it back off his forehead. "That reminds me of something."

"Which is?"

"You can heal as soon as you get hurt. How come you were bleeding that day?"

Nikolas paused. But he quickly resumed pushing down and up. "How many now?"

"Three hundred and thirty," she said, then frowned. "And why are you digressing? Answer me."

"I can stop myself from healing if I want to."

"What? So, you mean you could have healed, you just chose not to?"

"Yes," he responded.

"Why? Why would you do that?"

"I wanted to see you." Nikolas paused. "I missed you and I needed an excuse to see you. Even if you didn’t want to see my face. I knew you’d let me stay if I was hurt. That’s why I did what I did. I wanted...to see you."

Viviana swallowed down, biting into her bottom lip as her gaze lowered. "I’m sorry..."

Nikolas cocked a brow. "For what?"

"You should not have gone that far." She got off him, walking around to squat in front of him. "It hurt, didn’t it?"

"Well, it was a wound. Naturally it did. While I heal fast, it doesn’t mean I don’t feel pain. I’m not immune to pain."

Viviana pursed her lips. She touched his cheek, before shifting his hair off his face. "You’re a sweaty mess."

He burst into laughter, asking, "How many was that?"

"Four hundred and ten."

"It’s incredible how you can count while having a whole conversation."

"Is it?"

"I couldn’t do it. Now, give me a kiss."

Viviana made a disgusted face. "You’re sweaty."

"Is that a no?" Nikolas lifted his brow.

She quickly moved backwards before rushing to her feet. "Don’t you dare come close to me or I swear."

Nikolas who’d rose to his feet, grinned at her. "It’s just one kiss."

"No."

"Viviana."

"No!" She was behind the sofa, glaring at him. "Just you try it."

He tried to catch her, but she was dodging him.

"You’re being mean."

She gave him the middle finger.

That only made him laugh, before he moved too fast for her to even register. The next thing she knew, she’d been grabbed, tripping over her own foot and falling to the floor.

The man fell above her, her face planted on the floor. "Nikolas!"

"Stay still." Nikolas pushed himself off her, though he grabbed both hands, having them pinned over her head.

"What are you doing?" She gritted her teeth. "You’ve got me wet. I will kill you."

"Aw."

He sighed softly.

"Now, we’re both dirty." Leaning in, he whispered, "Why don’t we go take a shower, huh?"

"You’re dead—Ah!"

He’d wrapped an arm around her stomach, picking her up as he stood up. "How much do you even weigh?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Nikolas shrugged, settling an arm under her legs to scoop her into his arms. "You’re quite light."

"Or maybe it’s because you’re super human."

"That’s insulting. I’m a vampire, sweetheart. Super humans couldn’t do what I do. I’m better," he glazed himself as he headed toward the bathroom with her.

————

Amadeo stood in front of Clinica B, staring at the building. His wife was there, but he was prohibited from seeing her.

Clenching and unclenching his fists, he made his way inside, heading further in, until the receptionist who was at the desk, rushed over to stand in front of him. She deeply bowed to him, lifting her head.

"Mr. Di-grassi, how may I help you today?" she asked.

Amadeo glanced at her. "I’d like to see my wife."

"I’m sorry, sir, but you can’t do that. Unless the patient agrees to see you, we can’t allow that."

"Then, tell my wife that I want to see her."

The nurse hesitated, but she nodded, leaving someone else at the desk before making her way to the ward where Roselia was in. She pushed the door open. If Roselia’s memory wasn’t good today, she would have no choice but to phone her daughter Viviana Di-grassi.

Roselia was seated on her bed, flipping through the books in her head. The nurse stepped inside, and deeply bowed to her. "Mrs. Di-grassi."

Roselia lifted her head.

Good. Her memory was okay today.

"What’s wrong?" she asked.

The nurse held a conflicted expression. "Ma’am, there is someone out there who wants to see you."

"Who? Is it Daichi?"

"No, ma’am."

"My daughter."

"No. it’s—" The nurse took a deep breath. She was worried, Roselia may spiral knowing Amadeo Di-grassi had come here.

"It’s who?"

"—It’s your husband. Mr. Amadeo. He wants to see you."

And just as expected, Roselia grew stiff, rapidly shaking her head. "No. Y-you can’t let him come here. You can’t let him see me. He’s going to—"

"Calm down, Ms." The nurse quickly rushed over to her. "I’m not going to let him come here. I didn’t intend to in the first place. I merely wanted to ask you to be sure, alright?"

Roselia’s eyes were wide with shrunken pupils. She nodded. "Oh...Okay."

"Good, good. Please relax. No one’s going to hurt you."

Once she was sure she’d been soothed, the nurse left, making her way back to Amadeo. He was still waiting as expected.

"So?" he questioned.

The nurse held a stone cold face. "She said no."

"What?"

"She does not want to see you, sir. Please take your leave."

Amadeo’s eyes twitched. These little bastards were speaking to him however they pleased, merely because Bastiani owned this hospital. He couldn’t fire them like he could if this had been any other hospital. He had no influence over Bastiani. And he accepted that.

"I see. But I will be back. Roselia can’t reject me forever. She’s my wife after all." Amadeo gave a small smile before turning to leave. However, he came face to face with Daichi Damiani who paused at the sight of him.

The two men gazed at each other.

Their eyes shone with a cold light. A killing intent that only the both of them could taste from each other.

But then Daichi gave a small smile, walking over to step past him. However, as he did, he whispered to him, "You will never have her again. I will kill you before you do, Amadeo."

Amadeo froze where he stood. But then his lip curled into the cruelest of smile as he slowly turned to stare at Daichi’s back. "Daichi..." he chuckled inwardly.

"...You’ll understand you don’t play with what belongs to me."